A large percentage of Christians, but not all, believe in a pre trib rapture; we will leave prior to Armageddon. For those not raptured, or caught away, there's no guarantee those left behind will survive long enough to make that choice. For those "lucky" enough to be given that option, martyrdom, dieing proclaiming Jesus' sovereign authority, rather than submitting to the mark is the only option that will let them enter heaven. When Jesus told us to take up our cross daily and follow Him, the cross wasn't just a symbol of rough times. Death is an awful thing for those left behind now. Sorrow, loss... But for the follower that dies, it's a change of address. "To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord". The disciples experienced horrific deaths rather than recant what they witnessed, what they knew to be true. There are ways I'd prefer not to die, but in the end, each of us will leave this finite shell for an infinite existence. Remember, the Bible tells us 365 times to "Fear Not".
